Himesh wants EastEnders' Tam to try stand-up again

EastEnders star Himesh Patel has said he'd love his character Tamwar Masood to try stand-up comedy again - and would even have a go in real life.

Himesh plays market inspector Tamwar, who has become a comedy favourite with viewers and recently launched an online spin-off, Tamwar Tales, to give a witty insight into his work in the Square.

Talking about the character, who tried stand-up comedy while still at school, he said: "I'd like to maybe see him try stand-up comedy again because the last time he tried it was five years ago and he's got five years' worth of material from the various things that have happened. But I don't know whether that's an option, it's a discussion that needs to be had."

Himesh also said he'd like to have a go at being a real-life comedian: "I think I would [enjoy it]. I've never tried it myself but I have had discussions with friends about pursuing it, not as a main endeavour because I love acting and writing too much, but it's nice to try something new, isn't it, so it's on the list I think."

On how he'd come up with Tamwar's humour, Himesh said: "The dry sense of humour was something that came at the beginning which I didn't realise I was doing and it's all credit to the writers that they picked that up and decided to make that a facet of the character. I've just been very fortunate that we've been able to create this unique character that I love playing and the writers seem to enjoy writing for him."

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.